A SINGLE mum who went back to college has snapped up a grand prize in a photography competition to commemorate the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

Ali Farrant, 42, walked away with £1,000 of photography equipment after winning Young Berkshire in Focus on Saturday.

The competition, supported by the Evening Post, was launched last year with a brief to capture the spirit of modern youth and was also sponsored by Hewlett Packard, The Oracle and Berkshire School of Arts and Design.

Ms Farrant, a second year HND photography and digital imaging student at Reading College, said she was stunned to win with her picture of children and adults playing together.

"I've always been interested in photography and I thought it was about time I did something for myself," she said.

"We all entered the competition as part of a college brief, but I didn't expect to win. It's a real ego-booster."

Second place was also taken by a Reading College student, 24-year-old Matt Miciak of Tilehurst, who was told by his tutor his first entry was not good enough.

He went back to his portfolio and submitted a photo of a youngster helping her grandmother.

"I wanted to show a positive aspect of youth in Berkshire," said Mr Miciak, who received £500 of equipment.

Seventeen certificates of merit were given to entrants whose work impressed the judges.

Certificates of merit and prizes were also handed out to the winners of Golden Art, where entrants were asked to submit work based on the theme of celebrations.

A special mention and £150 went to a joint effort by pupils of Maiden Erlegh School, who entered a three dimensional sculpture.

"It's a bombshell of celebration," exclaimed Berkshire's deputy Lord Lieutentant Roy Trustram-Eve, who was handing out the prizes.

He was standing in for Lord Lieutenant Philip Wroughton who could not make the event but sponsored Golden Art along with The Oracle and Berkshire School of Arts and Design.

All the winners' entries are being exhibited at The Oracle and will remain on display at the shopping centre until Saturday.